Family adjustment to cystic fibrosis.

A nurse and mother describes the clinical effects of cystic fibrosis on 
patients and the long-term demands the disease places on her own 
and other children and families. Diagnosis is mainly accomplished with an 
analysis of sweat for sodium and chloride ions. CF is transmitted 
as a Mendelian recessive trait. It is a generalized dysfunction of 
the endocrine glands. The abnormalities, seemingly unrelated, appear as loss of 
electrolytes through the sweat and salivary glands and as unusually thick, 
sticky mucus secretions that obstruct and damage the patient's pancreas, lungs, 
gallbladder, intestines, and liver. The objective of pulmonary therapy are to 
decrease viscosity of the pulmonary secretions and to improve and maintain 
pulmonary hygiene. Financial cost is only one of many burdens on 
the family. 